PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating former President Joe Biden’s pardons and use of autopen signatures.
👥 Who’s Involved: Former President Biden, U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, the Oversight Project (Heritage Foundation), and President Donald J. Trump.
📍 Where & When: Investigation revealed Monday email; events tied to Biden’s presidency and final day in office.
💬 Key Quote: “The investigation involves whether Biden was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of AutoPen or other means,” wrote Ed Martin.
⚠️ Impact: Focus includes pardons granted to Biden’s family members, high-profile Democrats and neoconservatives, and 37 federal inmates. Questions arise over the validity of the pardons and the potential misuse of the autopen.
IN FULL:
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an inquiry into former President Joe Biden’s use of autopen signatures and the validity of pardons issued during his presidency, according to an email reviewed by Reuters. U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin’s correspondence highlights concerns about Biden’s competence and whether others may have exploited his position through autopen or other mechanisms.
The investigation reportedly centers on preemptive pardons Biden granted to several family members and clemency decisions for 37 federal inmates, changing their sentences from death penalties to life imprisonment. Among those pardoned on Biden’s final day in office were his brother Jim, sister-in-law Sara, sister Valerie and her husband John Owens, brother Francis, Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the House January 6 committee, such as Liz Cheney.
The Oversight Project, a division of the conservative Heritage Foundation, has previously raised concerns about Biden’s frequent use of an autopen for his official signature. The group stated in March, “We gathered every document we could find with Biden’s signature over the course of his presidency. All used the same autopen signature except for the announcement that the former President was dropping out of the race last year.” They questioned who controlled the autopen.
President Donald J. Trump has also claimed Biden used an autopen for pardons, alleging Biden was unaware of the actions. Martin has remarked, “I do think that the Biden pardons need some scrutiny. And they need scrutiny because we want pardons to matter and to be accepted and to be something that’s used correctly.”